Berry-cleaning device



1 June 24, v1 930. w E HEL 1,765,953

' BERRY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, i928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JZ Em il J1me 1 w. EIURSCHEL BERRY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 1 a 4 y m g, l W w n v0 fl y V; w W H rH HUN w w w 95 x v w 3 Z w 1 5 June 24, 1930. w. E. URSCHEL 1,765,953

BERRY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheeta men/Z071 @flckeZ June 24, 1930. w u sg EL I 1,765,953

BERRY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb.- 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZYWQ? [Hu h/Z0? I Patented June 24," i I a s Q y f yqumreo vsrArEs OF-FICTEZL;

- if. vi irranhrsa'pmnmna I 1 I T f eaan w ns ms 5 Appl icat ion filet l Feb ua s: 192s. Serial No. 257,119!

' This invention relates to agricultural im-' Still another object is the provision. of pl'ements and more particularly to buckle- -means forvtumblingarticles toi a predetere berry cleaning deviceQ-althoughthe invenmined position-to effect the severance of tionmay beemployed withequaladvantage appendages therefrom.- i for other purposes. i. i i v I I A'further object isto provide niea'ns mov- It contemplates inoreuespecia'll the proable in a predetermined .path 'to effect ithe vision-of improved: means for e ecting the severance of appendages fromarticles and removal of, appendages constitutingi'undethe subsequent discharge thereof without sirable growths .on crops or other articles interruption of the continuity of operation.

I 370 without inflicting anyinjury thereto. It A still further object is the provisionof 60 is of particular importance ,to effect this means movable through predetermined result without imparting destructive impath for arranging articles in apredeter pactstothe'articles, since such are quite mined position .thereonfor severance by delicate in texture and not'very resistive instrumentalities movable relative thereto; without destruction to pressure reactionsfi Still a further object is to' provide means:

siAgriculturalcleaners of known 'construcr movable along a predetermined path in contion have not proven entirely satisfactory fronting relation witha pressure applying in'vthat delicate crops or articles such as ine'ans'maintained in suspension for'direcv huckleberries generally are injuredduring ing-articles thereagainst to efl'ect'the severthe severance of the appendages thereance of appendages therefrom by means 1 from, so that-the advantages accruing to movable relative thereto; a f r I the use of power operated devices are minither objectsandadvantages'will appear imized by the inability 'of reaping the en,- from the following description of; an illustiire' harvest therefrom. Ithas' been found t'r'ativ'e" embodiment "of the present invendesirable to retain the -;berries or;-other tion; 7'

articles in a momentarypredetermined po- In'the drawings; 7 a. j v sitio'n'. I Slight pressure applying-means are ig 1 i' 'V W iD'QIQVatiOII Of'a deemployed for effecting this function, but viceembodyingfeatures of the present inwith known contriva'nces 'these' ha 'notvention, -partsthereofobeing broken away proven entirely satisfactory owing to their to clari-fy the showing. I v g tendency to crush or' otherwise defacefthe Figure 2 isa fragmentary plan View in articles beyondu'sefulness," k section ofthe device disclosed in Figure 1. It has been found desirable to" control Figure?) is a sectional view in elevation the position of the cropsor articles within of the frame standard-employed in connecthe mechanism in such a manner as to retion with the device disclosed =in-' =Figure- 1. 35

'quirethe least; pressure-from the pressure Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view applying-means which tendsto maintain takensubstantially along line IV'IV of the required position thereof during the op- Figu-re 1;

eration=of severance. of the appendages Figure '5'i's a fragmentary View of the 40 therefrom. i v '7 a appendagesevering instrumentality. 1*" or J; Oneobject of thepresent invention is to "Figure '6 is a detailed view of meansem simplify: thecons'tructi'on andiinprove the ployedto positionthe articles on the" plate operation of devices of the character menprior to the severanceof the appendages tioned.--g x a therefrom;

. 45 Another object is the provision of instru- 'F'ig'ure 7 is a fragment'aryview"of-the mentalitiesfor removing: the appendages plate and severing means disposed in eonfrom articles without the, manual handling fronting relation therewith to effect the sea thereof, thereby minimizing the amount of verance of theappendages projecting 'flthe labor: entailed -inT-the cleaning of edible path thereof.- H 1 Y 5 so ti1 1' 4 y r Figure-8'is a"fragmentary view showing the hopper support and adjustment therefor.

Figure '9 is a sectional view in detail dis closing the manner of securing the article receiving discin position.

Figure is 'a sectional V ew takensube stantially along'line X-X of Figure 4.

' Figure] 11 is 'a fragmentary; perspective View illustrating means for 1 applying pressure to berries or fruit in the device.

The structure selected for" illustration comprises a frame 10 elevatedfto'any suitable position by standards 11 integrally or T {bers 12 span the .standards ll, certainof *which support'spaced bearings '13 (Fig. 4)

- 111 alignedirelatlon for. receiving a shaft14 otherwise associated therewith. Gross memjournalled for rotarymovement therein.

'. 'Abevelled gea'ri15 .is secured to one .:ex-

tremity of the shaft 14'to mesh with a correspondingly. shaped gear 16 carried by a vertically disposed shaft 17 havlngtheex- 'tremity' 18 thereof sustained in a vertical bearing 19.. The other extremity of the shaft 17 is journalled'jin a bearing 21 con stituting an integral part of. a hopper support member 22. I The member, 22 terminates in azbracket 23 having a recess. 24. provided in an angular extension thereof. to confront 7 'a-correspondingly shaped recess 25 provided in the standards 11'. A rod 26 of anys'uitable construction is interposed between the bracket 23 and the standards 11.,f0r. recep tion Ewithinthe confronting recesses 24. and

' 25 to, effect, the'su'pport ofgthe .cros's member Ahopper 27 of any suitable construction and configuration, preferably conical, is supported on'the cross member22 by mea'ns'of upwardlydisposed brackets 28 whichterminate in proximity ,to the mouth of the hopper27 for attachment thereto bysuitable fasteners such ,as'rivets 29. In order. to-effeet. the; vertical adjustment of the hopper 2']- with-respect to-ithe cleaning instrumentalities to be subsequently described, the brackets. 23 are provided j with adjusting screws 30in axial aligmnentwith the recesses 24 thereof for contact with the rod 26. This expedient enablesthe elevation'or descension of the hopper27 with respect to the standards 11; :Asshown, the adjusting screw'30 is provided-with a lock nut 31 for i insuring the retention 'ofthe hopper 27 in 'itsa'djusted; position, since such would otherwise be =subj ect to, accidental displacement owing to the vibrations existent in the frame j responsive tothe operation of theinstrumen' talities associated therewith.

. The hopper 27 is provided withla spout 32; communicating with the, apex thereof to.guidethe'articlesfsuch as huckleberriesto ,cleaning instrumentalities. v The cleaningin- .strumentalities consist in this instanceof a fdisc 34' which is provided with apertures :35

n infits 'periphery to cooperate with suitable may be: lodged within theislots 54' andf55 fasteners, to effect the attachment thereof to a peripheral member 36. The peripheral member 36 is provided with inclinedbores 37 to enable the projectionof studs 38there through which are'provided with hooks 39 on their extremities for'engagement with the; apertures 35, onlthe :disc 34. Fasteners such; as the :nuts 40 of-standardconstruction threadedly engage the shank of the stud 38 to fasten the disc 34 to the peripheral member 36, there being a lock-nut 41fadjacent the. nut 40 to insure against any possible displacement"which'would interfere with the function of the parts.

engagement with the extremities thereof.

Themembers 46 and 47 are provided with 96 aligned, eccentrically disposed. bores 48 of substantially the diameter of the vertical shaft 17; which projects therethrough for lm'parting' rotary rnovement thereto,,tTh'e' tubular member has age'ar 49 secured to 5 the extremity thereof exteriorly andconcen tric'ally of; the eccentric-46.; Laterally disf 1' Y V posed teeth 50 on the peripheral'edge thereof V engage andmesh with-teeth 51 provided 011 theface of'an annular gear 52 secured to cross members. 53, Which maintain the gear fixed relative. to the pinion50, thereby imparting slow movement "to thetubular mein+ ber 45 owing to the eccentrics46 and 47 which cause successive engagement thereof with the annular gear 52 (Fig-l0). v The dished memberuor qbowl, 42 secured thereto for clfecting eccentric circular move? ment of the article receivingdisc 34', im parts a slightvibratory movement thereto,

huckleberries will rolland tumble thereoverr As shown, the, disc 34 isprovided with a series of concentrically arranged radially disposed slots 54 interposed byuniformly spacedslots '55 of double length foreifecting the projection of, the, article appendages therethrough during their tumbling on the. surface thereof. In order. that the article] appendages, such as appear'on huckleberries,

at onetime orother during thetraverseof the discl34 inless than anenti'rerevolution,

means are provided tofexert a slight pres-.

sure on the article, in itspassage fromthe position of supply to the ,pointof discharge.

. Thepress'ure applying ineansconsists,-in 7 this instance, of flexible linked, members orchains :56 which bridge, concentrically spaced membersguiderails 57 'andQ58 sus-' ..11'0 and as a consequence the articles such as I 7' eccentric 707 130? impart circulatory movemenft toth'e plate-8O adjacentthe discharge T'rncuth 81 16f the spent 32."

berries pr hnckleberries. A slide 90is p ov ided t;c1os e .0r otherwise regulate the ex- 7 tent of the dischargepassage 80'0f thesp'out F L 32;"thereb y effecting the, measured discharge 1 jojf articles to the receiving plate 34c. A suitable I article feed guide '9lfconstituting an extension ofrthe spout 32: is employed to f jprop rly govern 'the'disp sition of'the arti-r clesicnftheg disc 34: in the path iof theslcts f54'andf55 pr0videdftherein. n

It is; manifest that the pc'sition' cf the the shearing action 'execiitedatc effect fthe a seyerance of the'appendages, from" the a artl- V i H inaccuracies of manufacture, an adjusting V eccentric? 0 with the extremity thereof 9 knives; 66 to; be elevated or lcwered rwith rei spect'to vthe-plateiiylt'g )govern the shear ng thegadjusting eiew 92% maintain-the pee-1 tion thereof withnt anypossibihty -ef acclldental {dis lacem nt f 'the rgof i hi q iwmlfld (knive fi dur ngthe Qrerationthereof.

- *Ql 111.11 epp r nti bm thl bbv,,,de'-

'1 fscripticn .thatthe depqsition ofi'herries on" to. ll' i t th p i iec mi' f; the! s s' ppend' ss h r t r ugh hi'rpta ni i h i 51mins 6.6% pee mu i t rtha a b3? 11 ibi 0 igh id w i rdipr 6f. isr li s be w h idsf' and J thus gca'nsingfl. the: ppendages "to ffprqject hon-{of T'the knives 66 s'libs'tantially contact call'ydescribed withoiit departing Efrem ,or sacrificing any *ofj the dvantages ie fl fined in theaappe delali Q- *1', 5Th e c'ombinat'ioh; with means, "forifeed article appendages.

I kniizes66 relative {to the disc. 34 Wi11 geve'rn ia fiidn thereof; by manipulating the 'adjiist-Y Sure-1011 his byf thei flexiblechains meaebs forfeccentrically moving said'disc', means suspended above saididi sc toj h ear thear'ticl'es th er'eagainst so that the appendages :theihofwill project through the apertures in saiddi'sc, aplurality cf severing means 'imountedfadjacent said di'sc,' and means for s moving said severing I means; ecceiit'rically and "relative to said disc to" remove the" The COInb natiOi'l with' means for feeding articles, of an apertured' disc, means for eccentricaily rotatingsaid'disc, flexible Q i V linked meanssuspended above said disc'fto bear the articles 'thereagainstso"that the appendages thereof will project through theapertures in said-"disc, a plurality of' severingmea'ns mounted adjacent said disc, i V and 'rneans' for moving said severing means relative to said disc andata higher speed-P 5 than said 'discyto' 're'move the iarticle ,;ap P 1l 3g 1 i V. 'AZBJ'ZThe COmhinatiOn with a frame, fifa 1sc screw .92 .threadedlj p'rbj ects 'thr'cugh the. I

I associated therewith, 'thei'e' fbeingf v V V radially disposed'jslots insaid disc ine'ans 6 c V I Qfor feedin articles to said-disc," flexible f aging r the} eOGQHtric'Q H. This' enables the meahssnspended above said disc to direct slots therein; and a plurality o'f radially 9 I '("Iispcsed'fhlades confronting said disc for iho vement relative thereto andfeccehtrically of a e fs rri 5 he ic r ic'l a' j; 4 c. The manatio with a frame-{of a disc associated therewith,fftherej being radially Ldispe'sedslpts inf sa ifdj disc, I'Iieans' 1 5 cfb f m g. cen r c. a 'y 's wmove 'ment. to saidldis c meansfgr fee'ding'articles}; said disciflexible niean' siispendedahove 16s"; 7 V Eddi ctcLdireCt thefarti'c1es"inacentact T th'ejrewith ,scj that' f the article; ap'petaags ia o'iwt oug whar slqts. 't eremxi rneans for effecting *se'tzerance j of ithefff appendages frem the' articles{comprising a rotating knife5 a m ans ,fQIflf moving said ;knif eccent ieau gofb saidl fran e and in r r r the'sarne' path as said disc 151115 at a" greater speed The assess jv vith, artic e? s'uspen dedfmeans effective to" t 115. ing: means an apertnred d sc, anxeccentmc for elrivil gSfiidfdisc in ja circular, 7' i c "impart "eccentric v 'rnqyenient' ft-heretd; jineans' j i v V ,sl psilded b vex -"dis i e f'feed-i throughh ts th hirc s i hey U V V 'ingiartidesjtosaididisc andfbeneathisaid V re f'she'ared .therefrcmfowingtoFthe rlotac c ng flljj a. m ans, e r ur dj d san' lltri ef div d impart horizontally vibratory mcvement thereto, means suspended above said disc, means for feeding articles to said discand beneath said suspended means effective to from the articles.

' .=VVILLIAM E. URSCHEL. 

